Al-Andalus 1: Total Umayyad Victory

folks, today we embark on a new series about a place in the Medieval world we haven't covered much yet, Al-Andalus, aka the Muslim rule over the Iberian Peninsula. Al-Andalus is incredibly important to the formation of European states and the growth and power of the Catholic Church as well as a vital center for Islamic martial, political, and cultural influence for more than 700 years. so, we needed to cover it and now we are. we start with the background on the Iberian Peninsula following the fall of Western Rome, then discuss the rise of the Umayyad Caliphate and its massive empire, and the Muslim invasion and conquest of Iberia. enjoy!